Autumn and winter are busy seasons for restaurants and food-service facilities. The last thing a restaurant needs is a refrigerator breakdown in the middle of a packed house or an urgent holiday gift order. Follow these four tips to keep your commercial fridges and freezers humming smoothly throughout the festive months.

1. Rely on Checks and Balances

You've established strict thermometer-checking policies for your walk-ins and side-by-sides. What else should you do to protect your refrigerators and freezers from potential failure?

Establish a system of checks and balances. Appoint one person each to double-check the status of back-of-house appliance at least once per shift. Choose front-of-house employees as checkers for extra accountability, but train the checkers well.

Appliance checkers should look for the following:

• Ice buildup
• Broken, damaged food packages
• Leaking food items
• Propped fridge or freezer doors
• Out-of-range temperatures

Kitchen staff can become overwhelmed during a busy shift and simply go through the motions of checking commercial refrigeration equipment. Appointing a backup checker can be the key to catching small refrigeration problems before they become nightmares.

2. Know Your Fridge and Freezer Facts

If you aren't knowledgeable about your cold- and frozen-food storage, your lack of knowledge could cost you. Your commercial refrigerator and freezer could become sources of trouble when the health inspector shows up to check out your food safety standards.

In Utah, your refrigerators should hold most perishable foods at a temperature of 41 degrees Fahrenheit or lower. This rule applies to raw ingredients and to foods being thawed in your commercial refrigerator.

Your refrigerator should be able to cool heated foods quickly. Potentially hazardous cooked foods measuring 140 degrees Fahrenheit should be cooled to a temperature of 70 degrees Fahrenheit within two hours. The same foods must cool from 70 to 41 degrees Fahrenheit within four hours.

Periodically monitor cooked, cooling foods to ensure that they're reaching the right temperatures within the legally specified time frame. If hot, potentially hazardous foods are allowed to cool too slowly, they can grow harmful microorganisms that spread foodborne illness.

Don't overload your refrigerators with hot, cooked foods. Stagger cooking and storage of large quantities of hot foods, or divide large portions of hot foods between several refrigerators.

3. Prioritize and Sanitize

One of the best ways to keep your commercial fridges and freezers humming along is to keep them tidy. If you don't have a daily, weekly, and monthly appliance checklist, create one now.

The insides of all units should be wiped out daily. Even full freezers can be swept clear of crumbs at the openings.

Daily refrigerator cleaning tasks should also include the following:

• Check and toss expired foods.
• Wipe up spills.
• Wipe down shelves and surfaces.
• Check for proper food placement.
• Sanitize gasket seals.
• Sanitize handle and wipe down exterior surfaces.

Once a week, each shelf in your refrigerator should be emptied and sanitized. The exterior of the refrigerator can be washed with a mild detergent and wiped with a damp cloth to remove dirt and grime during the weekly shelf cleaning.

Keep dirt, dust, and debris off your refrigerator's mechanical components by checking at least monthly for dust and lint on the back of the condenser coils. After unplugging the refrigerator, the fins in the coils should be vacuumed or brushed in a vertical direction from the top of the condenser to the bottom.

The fan and motor inside your refrigerator should also be inspected and cleaned once a month. Again, ensure that the appliance is unplugged from the power source before wiping the fan blades and other dusty components.

Wipe fan blades with a dampened cloth only, and don't drip cleaner on wires or other metal components of the refrigerator. Check the air return vents, honeycombs, and other areas for mold and mildew buildup. Remove any clogs in the drain hole, and clean the pan.

When cleaning fan blades or other internal components, use only mild cleaners. The smell of strong chemical cleaners can be transferred into the refrigerator and affect the smell of your cooking ingredients.

4. Have an Emergency Plan

Appliance breakdowns happen even when you're vigilant about maintaining your food-service equipment. Power outages can happen at any time and disrupt your kitchen. What are your plans if your commercial refrigeration fails?

Develop a protocol for refrigeration interruption. The first rule should be to open the fridge and freezer doors as seldom as possible. If kept closed, a full freezer can maintain a safe temperature for up to 4 hours without power.

Some future emergency refrigeration solutions to explore include:

• Install a backup generator.
• Use dry ice in appliances.
• Share appliance space with another business.

Post the number of a qualified commercial refrigeration specialist in a prominent place in your kitchen or office. Your staff will know exactly whom to call when a refrigeration breakdown has occurred.

If your commercial refrigeration equipment in Northern Utah needs tuning up, maintenance, or repairs, contact Dick Kearsley Service Center today. Schedule our expert appliance services for your food-service business now before the holidays are in full swing.

Newton's Law of Cooling states that a body loses heat in conjunction with the temperature of the surrounding environment to achieve equilibrium. Unfortunately, this simple principle also means that your home will need to be constantly heated during a frigid winter to stay comfortable — unless you create more of a separation between your home's interior and the outside world.

Here are three easy ways to improve the warmth of your home without cranking up the heat so that you can take advantage of this scientific principle while minimizing your power bill.

1. Use Your Curtains Wisely

Blinds and curtains can create a powerful barrier between the cold temperatures outside and the interior of your home. While most modern windows are created to reduce heat loss, their R-value is typically far less than the surrounding wall.

Fortunately, by simply closing your blinds and snapping those curtains shut, you can significantly reduce heat loss, keeping the temperatures inside your home more comfortable.

In fact, the Department of Energy explains that standard curtain varieties can reduce heat loss by as much as 10%, while insulating curtains hung close to windows and sealed with Velcro or tape can reduce heat transfer by as much as 25%, reducing your reliance on interior heating systems.

To keep your home as warm as possible, close your blinds tightly when the sun is down, and secure curtains around your windows to keep drafts to a minimum.

During the day, open your drapes and your blinds to let in as much sunlight as possible. When sunshine pours through your windows, the UV light converts to a heat-generating wavelength, passively warming the space.

2. Check for Small Air Leaks

Unfortunately, even small drafts can do a lot of damage to your monthly heating bill, especially if you have more than one area that lets cool air pour into your home. To keep your home cozy, check the entire interior and exterior envelope of your home for holes, and seal them to prevent heat transfer.

Check spaces around incoming cables, pipes, exterior dryer vents, hoses, and structural supports. If you spot holes, fill the space with spray foam insulation or small chunks of fiberglass insulation.

If you have a pet, consider replacing their doggie door with an insulated version, which is specifically designed to reduce drafts and heat loss. Most versions contain cushioned edges to reduce gaps around the opening, and multiple flaps to keep carefully heated air inside.

Air leaks can also be a problem when they exist within your HVAC ductwork. Incorrectly installed ducts can have joinery issues, allowing heated or cooled air to pool inside wall voids, crawl spaces, or unfinished basements.

In addition to making it difficult to delivery heated air to the right rooms of your home, air leaks can also make your furnace work harder than necessary to heat your home, increasing the need for repairs and system replacements.

To prevent issues, use a flashlight to inspect exposed ductwork to look for holes or joinery gaps. Seal holes with aluminum sealing tape or HVAC epoxy. If you have entire areas that are no longer connected, turn to a trained heating and cooling professional to repair the issue.

In addition to reconnecting the pipes, professionals can also check the rest of your system for possible leaks, improving the warmth of your home.

3. Rearrange Your Furniture

Sometimes when people move in to a new home, they think more about how they want the space to look rather than how they want the room to function. Unfortunately, blocking interior cold air returns can make it more difficult for your furnace to heat the air inside your home, causing issues during the winter.

Find the location of cold air returns in your home by looking for vents that aren't actively pushing out warmed air when the furnace is running. To see if they are sucking in air, hold a piece of paper over the vent cover to see if it sticks from negative pressure. Make sure these vents are completely unobstructed by furniture, coat racks, and rugs.

Furthermore, think about arranging furniture to take advantage of natural heating elements within a room. For instance, you might move your sofa to sit in front of your fireplace, making it easy to warm your toes while you relax in the afternoon.

It isn't always easy to tell why your home is colder than it should be, which is why working with professionals is so important. Here at Dick Kearsley Service Center, our experienced HVAC repair professionals can help you to identify the causes of a cooler home and offer solutions to keep your space comfortable this winter.

Whether you need a new furnace or you are nervous about your indoor air quality, we can help. Give us a call today.

Your air conditioner is a key component to your comfort at home, so it can be frustrating when it doesn’t work properly. Air conditioners lose efficiency for many reasons. Knowing these reasons can help you decide what your next course of action should be.

Age

Air conditioners last about 10 to 15 years, and with each passing year, they lose some efficiency. If your air conditioner is near the end of its life span, it's not going to work as well as it did when it was first installed.

You can combat some of this problem by getting an annual tune-up for your unit, but no amount of attention from an HVAC professional will turn back the hand of time. If your air conditioner is more than 10 years old, the best way to make your home's air conditioner more efficient is to get a new air conditioner. Work with your HVAC professional to determine the best course of action for your home.

High Temperatures

As a general rule, air conditioners are designed to cool a home by about 20 degrees, although some units can cool more. This means that if your home is 100 degrees inside when the air conditioner is turned on, the best your air conditioner may be able to do is cool the space to about 80 degrees.

You can avoid this problem by turning the air conditioner on before the house reaches 100 degrees, but if the weather is hot enough outside, your house may become stuffy regardless of when you turn on your air conditioner.

Grime

Air conditioners work by removing hot air from inside the home and expelling it into the yard through the condenser. The condenser sits outside the house in the yard, where it can easily become covered in grime and debris. When this happens, air conditioner may struggle to do its job.

Many homeowners clean the condenser by removing the cover and spraying inside the condenser with a hose. Some go the extra mile and soap down the coils with a special coil cleaner.

To get started, turn off the unit and cut the power. Use a screw driver to remove the cover, and then clean the inside of the condenser. Remove all leaves and debris before spraying down the inside of the unit. If you get an air conditioner tune-up every year, your air conditioner repairperson can clean the condenser for you.

Poor Insulation

If your home is poorly insulated, your air conditioner will struggle to keep up with demand. Installing weather stripping can help improve your air conditioner's efficiency. You can buy weather stripping at home improvement centers or hardware stores. Weather stripping comes in different forms, including foam strips, rubber gaskets, and plastic that you can place over windows.

Unfortunately, all the weather stripping in the world can't completely make up for problems like poor insulation. If your house is under insulated, talk to a contractor about boosting insulation. Insulation can be added after building a home, so take care of this problem as soon as you can.

Improper Size

An air conditioner that is too small or too large for the size of your home will not run efficiently. If it is too small, it will run endlessly on hot days while your house stays stuffy and warm. An air conditioner that is too large will turn on and off frequently, which is inefficient.

Your air conditioner contractor should have chosen the air conditioner size for your home, but if the size of the air conditioner wasn't chosen by a professional, it could be improperly sized for your home. The only way to fix this problem is to buy an air conditioner that is the right size.

Coolant Leak

Coolant is what transports the heat from inside your home to the outside of your home. Coolant exists in a closed system, so your air conditioner should never need more coolant to be added.

However, if your air conditioner has developed a leak, get repairs and add more coolant to your system. If your system has a coolant leak, it will either cool very inefficiently or may not cool at all. Your air conditioner repairperson can tell you how much coolant you need to add.

Clogged Air Filter

The air filter is the part of the HVAC system that cleans and filters the air. If the air filter is very dirty, this can cause the entire HVAC system to work harder than it should just to get the job done. You'll be able to tell if your air filter is clogged by removing it from its slot near the blower. If the filter is dirty, replace it. Most filters need to be replaced or cleaned every month.

Contact Your Air Conditioner Repair Person

If you're not sure why your air conditioner is working less efficiently than it used to, contact your air conditioner repair person. At Dick Kearsley Service Center we're happy to answer customer questions about air conditioner efficiency. Contact us today to find out more.

Undertaking projects to improve the appearance, convenience, and value of the home is standard operating procedure for most dedicated homeowners. While every improvement project should always be planned to enhance the comfort and enjoyment of living in the home, sometimes even the most carefully made plans can go awry.

Sometimes a home improvement plan results in creating or aggravating a problem with another part or system of the home, such as the heating and air conditioning system. If you are planning to make some future improvements in your home and want to avoid negatively impacting your HVAC system, consider the following information.

1. Add Living Space

The addition of more living space is one of the most common home improvement goals today, especially for growing families. Adding a wing with an extra bedroom or two or finishing a previously unused basement, garage, or attic can certainly give families the additional space they need.

However, if the design does not also plan to enlarge the capabilities of the home's HVAC system, the project may cause more problems than it solves.

Failing to do so can mean your current system will be forced to run more often in an attempt to keep the new living spaces at the proper temperature. This increased runtime not only causes premature aging of the system's parts and components but also results in higher energy consumption and more expensive utility bills.

Homeowners can avoid this type of problem by making sure to include appropriate HVAC renovations or upgrades as part of the original project plans.

2. Change the Layout

Like adding more living space, changing the layout of the home can also place a strain on your current HVAC system. Some examples of this include:

• Constructing walls within previously open areas of the home
• Installing doors where none were originally located
• Incorporating a porch or sunroom into the living area of the home
• Closing off or opening up a stairwell in the home
• Raising or lowering ceiling heights

These types of home improvements are at risk of creating HVAC problems because they can seriously affect the way conditioned air flows throughout the home. When this happens, the blowers used by the HVAC system may no longer be capable of moving conditioned air to every room.

In addition to less heating and cooling efficiency, homes where the layouts were changed in this manner may experience an uncomfortable temperature disparity in different areas of the home that directly impacts the comfort of those who live there.

To avoid creating this type of problem when making home improvements, homeowners will need to overcome any airflow obstacles that may be caused by their intended renovations. In some cases, incorporating features such as louvered doors or ceiling fans can help, but a more efficient option usually requires adding runs of duct work and installing additional vents in the renovated areas.

3. Increase Humidity Levels

Home improvements that will raise the level of humidity inside the home must be approached carefully in order to keep the interior environment healthy for occupants. Too much moisture in the home can worsen breathing difficulties for family members with some types of medical conditions, as well as greatly increase the risk of creating a mold or mildew issue inside the home.

Home improvements with the potential to raise interior humidity levels include:

• Adding a greenhouse
• Installing a steam shower or sauna
• Adding a second kitchen
• Installing an enclosed pool or spa
• Adding decorative fountains or water features inside the home

Homeowners who want to make these types of humidity-causing improvements should take preventative measures to keep their home environment at a healthy humidity level.

These measures include adding additional automatic or switch-controlled vent fans in high-humidity areas and installing a dehumidifier unit on the home's existing HVAC system.

4. Place Additional Demands

Another common problem that often occurs when homeowners modernize and update their houses is they may unknowingly place additional demands on their HVAC system that hamper its efficiency.

An excellent example of this is when homeowners decide to make dramatic renovations, such as adding a wall of windows on one or more sides of the home. While certainly beautiful to behold and capable of greatly increasing the amount of natural light in the home, the addition of such a substantial amount of glass can also raise the interior temperature several degrees.

Even planning to replace each standard window with a larger one throughout the home can have a similar thermal effect and place a strain on the existing air conditioning system.

Homeowners who want to avoid this type of problem should first look for ways to enjoy expansive areas of glass in their homes without sacrificing HVAC efficiency or interior comfort levels, including protective window film, blinds, or drapes.

At Dick Kearsley Service Center, our heating and air conditioning technicians love using their skills to help homeowners solve their HVAC efficiency issues in their homes. Call us soon to discuss how to achieve efficient, year-round comfort in your home.

Your home's thermostat is like the brain for your HVAC system. The type of thermostat installed in your home can make a big difference in your HVAC system's effectiveness and efficiency.

Thermostat upgrades or changes to the way you use your thermostat may be able to improve your HVAC system's heating and cooling power. This thermostat guide will help you understand thermostat technology better so you can decide what can and should be done to make your home comfortable and your HVAC system efficient throughout the year.

Thermostats Types

Thermostats have changed a lot throughout the years. Depending on the age of your HVAC system, you could have a thermostat that is very old or very new.

Analog Thermostat

Also known as a mechanical thermostat, the analog thermostat uses moving parts to trigger changes in the HVAC system. Analog thermostats typically show the room’s temperature and the HVAC temperature setting on separate displays. To change the temperature, the homeowner turns a dial.

Analog thermostats are not programmable, so homeowners must change the temperature setting in person and in real time. These thermostats have been largely replaced in recent years by digital and smart thermostats. Mechanical thermostats are rumored to be inaccurate, but a quality mechanical thermostat can be just as accurate as a digital thermostat.

Programmable Digital Thermostats

Programmable digital thermostats have been around for decades. Like traditional mechanical thermostats, digital thermostats show the temperature of the room and the temperature setting for the HVAC system. However, these devices have complex displays with symbols that help users choose a temperature setting for specific times of day.

Programmable digital thermostats save homeowners money by enabling them to change the temperature of the home depending on who is usually there and what they are doing at that time. For example, a homeowner who usually sleeps between 10 pm and 6 am may choose a temperature that is warmer or cooler at these hours to save money on HVAC expenses.

On weekends when the homeowner is at home doing chores, the programmable digital thermostat may be set to keep the home at a more ideal temperature. On weekdays when the homeowner is at work, he or she may set the temperature to something warmer or cooler than normal to keep heating and cooling costs low.

Programmable digital thermostats can save homeowners up to 10% on their heating and cooling costs annually if they are willing to change their temperature setting by 8 to 10 degrees at times when a more comfortable temperature is not necessary. In fact, in some areas, homeowners can save $10 per month for each degree lowered or raised.

Smart Thermostats

Smart thermostats are the most modern type of thermostat on the market. Smart thermostats have the ability to learn the preferences of the homeowner and make adjustments accordingly. They can be controlled via a wall-mounted display or an app on a tablet, computer, or smartphone.

Some smart thermostats can even sense the movements of the homeowner. When the home is empty, the thermostat adjusts the temperature to save money. When the homeowner returns, the system kicks on to make the home more comfortable. Smart thermostats are convenient and save money, so they are the preference of many tech-savvy homeowners.

Thermostat Replacement

If your home has a traditional analog thermostat, then replacing your thermostat can help you save money on HVAC costs.

What It Will Cost

Replacement costs are usually less than $170 for an electrician (between $65 and $85 per hour for less than two hours of work), plus the cost of the thermostat. Digital programmable thermostats cost between $100 and $150, and smart thermostats are priced $200 and up. Even though thermostat replacement has an up-front cost, a more efficient thermostat can save much more money over time.

What to Buy

For many homeowners, a digital programmable thermostat is a good money-saving option, as long as the homeowner is willing to program the thermostat. However, many homeowners who have programmable thermostats don't use the programming option to raise or lower the temperature of the home according to the homeowner's schedule. This can result in extra costs over time.

For homeowners who don't want to have to program their thermostat, a smart thermostat is a more practical option. Smart thermostats need less direction and help from homeowners in order to make good heating and cooling choices. Once the thermostat has come to recognize homeowner patterns, smart thermostats need little homeowner involvement to maintain a comfortable inside temperature and low HVAC costs.

How to Get Started

If you're a homeowner who would like to replace your home's thermostat, get started by contacting a reputable HVAC contractor in your area. At Dick Kearsley Service Center, we're happy to answer your thermostat questions and give you advice that can help you save money on HVAC costs. Contact us today for more information.

Because most hot water heaters are installed out of sight to eliminate a potential eyesore, the hidden location may also keep this appliance well out of your mind until a problem arises.

Fortunately, most hot water heater failures can be anticipated before they occur if homeowners know what to look for and when to call in a professional. In this blog, we list four signs that you should consider hot water heater replacement.

1. Advanced Age

All appliances have a set life expectancy and your hot water heater is no different. The majority of hot water heaters last approximately 10 years, though some models can last as long as 15 with proper maintenance. You can look up your unit type or check your owner's manual for an estimated replacement interval.

If you did not purchase your current water heater or don't remember when you purchased it, check the serial number for a date, or have an appliance expert inspect the unit to determine if age factors into your heater's performance.

If you find a serial number, this number indicates the manufacturing date of the unit and therefore the heater's age. Hot water heater serial numbers consist of a letter and a series of numbers.

For example, your serial number could be A123456789. The letter correlates to a month. In this example, "A" would be January because it's the first month, while "B" would be February, and so on. The first two numbers after the letter are the last two digits of the year so our hypothetical heater would have been manufacturer in 2012.

2. Altered Hot Water Capacity

Any time the heat level or hot water amount produced by your hot water heater changes, you should consider this a serious issue. These changes can have numerous causes. For example, if a heating element fails, your water won't be as hot, while if sediment builds up in your heater, the tank can't hold as much water.

Some of these issues can be resolved through repairs or cleaning, like a sediment flush. However, if the issue occurs suddenly, this problem is a likely indicator of hot water heater failure.

3. Corroded Connections

While hot water heaters are designed to be in constant contact with water, these appliances can sometimes develop corrosion as they age. While a plumber can replace a few small corroded components, widespread corrosion, especially rust, can mean your heater's lifespan is over.

Corrosion can occur internally or externally. If the corrosion happens to the outside of the heater, you may notice red-brown spots on the heater or pipes, especially near flow-control valves, pipe joints, and other connection spots where water is more likely to seep out over time. Any visible leaks also point to corrosion even if you don't see rusty holes.

While you won't see internal rust when you visually inspect your hot water heater, this corrosion can have a distinct effect on the quality of your home's hot water, which we'll outline in the next section.

4. Unpleasant Hot Water Characteristics

As hot water heaters fail, the quality of the treated water that runs through the heater is reduced. This decreasing water quality can manifest in the smell, taste, or appearance of the water. Usually, hot water that smells and/or tastes off will begin to seem metallic.

This change can come from corrosion within the hot water tank or a hard-water issue in your water supply that has damaged the heater over time. When hard water is the cause of changes to your hot water, adding a water softener to your plumbing may prevent similar problems in the future but might not be enough to save your current heater.

When your hot water changes appearance, it may turn from clear to rusty brown as it runs or may come out of your tap with sand particles in it. The rusty issue is obviously related to corrosion and may come with metallic smell and taste changes as well.

Sediment in your water typically results from dirt and organic debris particle buildup in the tank. If you notice sediment issues, have your hot water heater assessed as soon as possible. As with lower amounts of hot water as we discussed in section two, flushing the tank can sometimes resolve the issue and prolong the life of your heater.

If you notice any of the warning signs listed above, schedule a hot water heater inspection as soon as possible. Proactive replacement can eliminate the hassle and additional expenses that occur when water heaters fail unexpectedly.

As you consider your options for this investment, consult with a knowledgeable appliance expert. This professional can help you decide on a new hot water heater that can save you money and provide the best performance for your household size and water usage habits.

For comprehensive appliance services, trust the experienced team at Dick Kearsley Service Center.

Life without your refrigerator can be tough to imagine. After all, you rely on your refrigerator day-in and day-out to keep perishable foods fresh and safe from harm. Sadly, what's often one of the most important appliances in your home ends up being neglected.

Just like any other appliance in your home, your refrigerator needs occasional maintenance. Unfortunately, many people miss the warning signs of a refrigerator that's in dire need of some TLC. Ignoring the red flags listed below could result in your refrigerator needing replacement well before its time.

1. Rapid Food Spoilage

Something's rotten, but it's likely the state of the food in your fridge. A sudden inability to keep foods fresh is one of the first signs that your refrigerator needs expert service. You might notice certain foods that are particularly sensitive to spoilage, including milk and meats, spoiling sooner than expected. Canned drinks may take much longer to chill while other foods fail to cool down at all.

The culprit could involve any number of issues with your refrigerator. For instance, damaged door seals can cause warm air to infiltrate your refrigerator and cause performance issues. A slow refrigerant leak can also gradually rob your refrigerator of its ability to keep foods cool.

If your refrigerator has problems keeping its cool, have a professional take a closer look. Not only do you risk wasting more energy by ignoring the problem, but you'll also end up wasting a bunch of food.

2. Excess Frost and Ice Buildup

Another sign of trouble is when your freezer looks less like a freezer and more like the Arctic Circle. Seeing your frozen foods caked in a combination of frost and ice isn't normal, plus the ice itself can be dangerous to remove. Attacking the problem with an ice pick, for example, only invites damage to the unit.

Most modern refrigerators have an automatic defrosting feature to keep frost and ice buildup at bay. This feature can fail in some refrigerators, however, and in some cases, ice buildup can be severe enough to overcome your refrigerator's automatic precautions. You maybe need to unplug the refrigerator for a while so it can defrost properly.

Excessive frost and ice buildup is a problem you should have your service technician check out as soon as possible.

3. Excess Condensation

If your refrigerator sweats as much as you do on a hot day, you may have a condensation issue on your hands. Condensation occurs when moisture trapped in warm air condenses from a vapor to a liquid once the air is cool enough. Condensation is a natural part of the refrigeration process that helps keep your food fresh.

Your refrigerator normally deals with the small amount of condensate it produces by channeling it into a tray located underneath the fridge. Door seal failure can cause your refrigerator to sweat on the inside, resulting in water pooling at the bottom of the unit. Excess condensation on the outside of the refrigerator can also leave behind unsightly water puddles around the unit.

Water leaks can also occur if large amounts of condensate overwhelm the drip tray, causing it to overflow onto the floor. Even a small water spillage can cause a variety of serious hazards, including electrocution. You should have a service technician check these issues out as soon as possible.

4. Unusually Loud Noises

Your refrigerator isn't completely noiseless, but it's designed to operate quietly enough to escape notice. Excessive noise is another indicator that something's gone wrong with your refrigerator. If you can clearly hear your refrigerator buzzing or humming from across the kitchen, have the refrigerator checked out before other problems develop.

5. Excessive Energy Consumption

Refrigerators built within the last few decades were designed with energy efficiency in mind. If your refrigerator suddenly starts using more electricity than usual, it could be a sign of trouble. Worn-out or malfunctioning parts can cause a sudden spike in energy consumption for your fridge, resulting in an unpleasant surprise in your monthly utility bill.

If you're still hanging on to an older refrigerator, it’s probably an energy hog in need of replacement. Switching to an energy-efficient Energy Star-certified refrigerator can help reduce your monthly energy consumption by a significant amount.

6. Excessive Heat

Your refrigerator's compressor and coils generate plenty of heat under normal operation. This heat is usually limited to the rear of the refrigerator. However, if the sides or front of your fridge feels warm or hot to the touch, you may be dealing with an overheating issue.

If you think your refrigerator is overdue for service, the experts at Dick Kearsley Service Center will gladly check it out and recommend the right repairs. Contact us today to get an estimate so you can be confident that your refrigerator will be able to do its job.

One of the most useful appliances in your kitchen is tucked away in your sink cabinet. The garbage disposal makes clearing your sink handy, and it helps you keep some stinky scraps and food bits from clogging your drains or from filling up your trash can.

However, the disposal is often one of the most abused appliances. Many people can shorten their lifespan by not caring for them properly. To keep your sink disposal running effectively, follow these simple care tips.

1. Clean Your Disposal

Many people clean out their sinks. They might even contact a plumber on a seasonal basis to get the drains cleaned or the pipes cleared out. However, the disposal often gets forgotten about, and as a result, it can start to corrode or experience fatigue.

You should clean your garbage disposal thoroughly on a regular basis. Start by removing the black plastic flange that keeps dishes and large items from getting into the disposal space. Use hot, soapy water to clean grime and mildew build up from the flaps of the flexible flange. Set this piece aside to dry.

Next, use a bit of dish soap and a bottle brush to scrub the entrance to the disposal and to clean the surface blades. Scrub whatever you can reach with the brush.

To finish, you can run some water and soap through the disposal to help clean the mechanics on the way down. If you want to help the disposal smell fresh, then you can use a combination of vinegar and baking soda to eliminate lingering odors.

You might have heard that you can use citrus peels to clean your disposal. However, use this method sparingly and not as a regular cleaning method, as the acidity can cause eventual harm to the unit.

2. Avoid Grinding Harmful Items

Many people treat the disposal as a catchall for food items. However, your disposal should not process some types of food, and running these foods through the disposal can cause mechanical damage. Make sure you use alternative trash methods for these foods:

• Cooking oil and grease. Cooking oil and grease (even in liquid form) will cool in the pipes and can coat your disposal with hardened fat. This makes it harder for the blades to spin properly. Over time, the buildup of cooled grease can cause clogs.
• Bones and shells. Some people use eggshells as a way to clean the disposal, but other shells (like crab or lobster) should not go into the disposal. Bones will also break or jam the blades.
• Seeds and pits. Even small amounts of fruit seeds and pits, like cherry pits, can wreak havoc on your disposal. Always through these in the trash.
• Cooked or uncooked rice, grains, and pasta. Cooked grains may seem soft enough to send through the disposal, and small amounts are not an issue. However, don't send leftover rice or pasta down. They still absorb water and expand, gumming up the mechanics of your disposal. Uncooked grains work in a similar way and can cause clogs.
• Peels. Citrus peels in small amounts can freshen your disposal, but starchy potato skins and the tough exterior of a gourd will clog your disposal. Banana peels are also too tough.
• Stringy uncooked vegetables. Celery, for example, has tough strings that can actually wrap around the blades and stop them from working properly.
• Non-food items: You should never try to grind non-food items like cardboard packaging or plastics, even if they are biodegradable.

If you avoid putting these foods down your disposal, then you can avoid clogging your system.

3. Use Plenty of Water

A common mistake that people make is not using the right amount of water when using their disposal. After all the food has gone down the drain, you should still continue to run water through the disposal for several seconds. This way, the water can flush out any remaining food particles.

You'll find the disposal runs more smoothly and that you have fewer unpleasant odors if you continue to run the water after using the disposal. When turning the disposal off, flip the switch before shutting off the tap so the disposal does not run dry.

Use cold water as well, especially if you suspect a clog. Hot water may seem to work better at first because it melts fat that could be in the disposal, but the fats will only solidify again as they cool, and clogs could get more severe as a result.

4. Avoid DIY Fixes

If your disposal is having trouble, then don't try to fix it yourself. These units are actually more complex than they seem, and you could cause injury to yourself or damage the disposal even more as you try to solve the problem.

A common DIY mistake, for example, is to use a commercial drain cleaner to help clear a disposal clog. These cleaners can be very hard on your plumbing and can actually damage mechanical components. Other DIY fixes for jams and clogs include forcing the blades open with a broom handle or pulling hard on stuck objects; either approach could result in making a bad situation worse.

Instead, contact us for appliance repair. We can provide the right replacement parts for your needs at Dick Kearsley Service Cent

If you're like most Northern Utah homeowners, you won't think about your HVAC system's refrigerant unless there's a leak involved. However, that could change within the next few years. The HVAC industry is currently winding down its use of R-22, a well-known refrigerant once widely used in a variety of appliances and air conditioning systems.

The gradual phase-out of R-22 and other ozone-depleting refrigerants will have a deep impact on your present and future HVAC equipment choices. Read on to learn more about how the R-22 phase-out will affect your HVAC system.

What the Phase-Out Entails

The R-22 phase-out is part of an ongoing effort by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and other international bodies to reduce and eventually end production of ozone-depleting hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs). In accordance with the Montreal Protocol, all new production of R-22 refrigerant will cease by January 1, 2020.

After 2020, any technician who wants to use R-22 must do so with existing stocks or supplies scavenged from older HVAC units and other appliances. As supplies dwindle, the cost of obtaining and using R-22 will eventually become too expensive and time-consuming, leaving those with older HVAC systems unable to maintain their equipment economically.

The EPA banned HVAC manufacturers from building HVAC systems reliant on R-22 in 2010 and closed a loophole allowing the manufacture of HVAC units dry shipped without refrigerant several years later. Currently, the only HVAC systems being sold on the market are units that use non-ozone depleting refrigerants.

Why the Phase-Out Matters

Numerous studies have connected the use of CFCs (chlorofluorocarbons) and HCFCs to the gradual loss of the earth's ozone layer over the North and South Poles. Chlorine molecules released into the atmosphere by escaped refrigerants interact with ozone, converting the ozone molecules into oxygen.

Ozone is essential for blocking the sun's harsh ultraviolet radiation. Too little ozone in the atmosphere not only increases the risk of skin cancers and other health issues, but the buildup of CFCs and HCFCs in the atmosphere also accelerates the greenhouse effect. As a result, CFCs and HCFCs heavily contributed to global warming.

CFCs were eventually phased completely out of production by 1996. Unlike R-22 and its predecessors, modern refrigerants do not contain chlorine, making them non-ozone depleting and environmentally friendly.

How It Affects Your HVAC System

If you purchased an HVAC system within the last 10 years, then you won't be affected by the R-22 phase-out campaign. Most systems built within that time period were designed specifically to use non-ozone depleting refrigerants, with R-410A being the standard among most HVAC manufacturers.

If your current HVAC system is more than 10 years old and you have definite proof that it still uses R-22, it's time to start weighing your options. Each option mentioned below has its own set of perks and downsides, so you should do your research and choose wisely when the time comes.

Alternative Refrigerants

In response to dwindling R-22 supplies, the HVAC industry has come up with a number of alternatives to take the place of the fading refrigerant. Some refrigerants, like R-424A and R-438A, are touted as direct drop-in replacements that can be used in place of R-22 with little to no expensive prep work needed. These refrigerants are designed to offer a high level of compatibility with most lubricants.

Other alternative refrigerants, including R-407C, require the entire HVAC system to be purged of its original lubricant before adding the new refrigerant and its lubricant. Mixing incompatible lubricants can potentially damage your HVAC system.

Equipment Retrofitting

You can also have your current HVAC system converted to operate on R-410A instead of R-22. Both refrigerants are incompatible with one another due to differences in working pressures. An equipment retrofit solves this issue by replacing the original condenser unit, evaporator coil, and refrigerant lines with components rated to withstand R-410A's higher working pressures.

An equipment retrofit may be a better option if you've recently purchased a new HVAC system that still runs on R-22, but you want to enjoy the many benefits of using R-410A. Otherwise, you're better off having your HVAC system replaced entirely.

Complete Replacement

A complete HVAC replacement is the most expensive yet comprehensive option for handling the R-22 phase-out. Aside from being the eco-friendly choice, upgrading to an HVAC system that uses R-410A offers plenty of other advantages. R-410A transfers heat more efficiently than R-22, resulting in less energy consumption and better cooling performance.

Replacing your old HVAC system with the latest model puts you ahead of the curve when it comes to the R-22 phase-out. Not only will you enjoy better comfort, but you won't have to worry about tracking down the last supplies of R-22 several years from now.

The experts at Dick Kearsley Service Center can help you find the right HVAC system that meets your needs before the R-22 phase-out date arrives. Contact us to request service today.